Data Scientist Specialist

Job#: 2087780

Job Description:

Data Scientist Specialist

Location: McLean, VA (On-site, Monday-Friday)

Assignment Type: Contract Only

Compensation Rate: $87.50-$103.50/hr (Firm)

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced Principal Gen AI Scientist with a strong focus on Generative AI (GenAI) to lead the design and development of cutting-edge AI Agents, Agentic Workflows, and GenAI Applications that solve complex business problems. This role requires advanced proficiency in Prompt Engineering, Large Language Models (LLMs), RAG, Graph RAG, MCP, A2A, multi-modal AI, GenAI Patterns, Evaluation Frameworks, Guardrails, data curation, and AWS cloud deployments. You will serve as a hands-on GenAI (data) scientist and critical thought leader, working alongside full stack developers, UX designers, product managers, and data engineers to shape and implement enterprise-grade GenAI solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect and implement scalable AI Agents, Agentic Workflows, and GenAI applications
• Develop, fine-tune, and optimize lightweight LLMs; evaluate models like Claude (Anthropic), Azure OpenAI, and open-source alternatives
• Design and deploy Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and Graph RAG systems using vector databases and knowledge bases
• Curate enterprise data using connectors integrated with AWS Bedrocks Knowledge Base/Elastic
• Implement solutions leveraging MCP (Model Context Protocol) and A2A (Agent-to-Agent) communication
• Build and maintain Jupyter-based notebooks using platforms like SageMaker and MLFlow/Kubeflow on Kubernetes (EKS)
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to build full-stack GenAI experiences
• Integrate GenAI solutions with enterprise platforms via API-based methods and standardized patterns
• Establish validation procedures with Evaluation Frameworks, bias mitigation, safety protocols, and guardrails
• Design and build robust ingestion pipelines for extracting, chunking, enriching, and anonymizing data from PDFs, video, and audio
• Orchestrate multimodal pipelines using scalable frameworks (e.g., Apache Spark, PySpark) for automated ETL/ELT workflows
• Implement embeddings to map media content to vector representations and integrate with vector stores (AWS KnowledgeBase/Elastic/Mongo Atlas)

Required Qualifications

• PhD in AI/Data Science
• 10+ years of experience in AI/ML, with 3+ years in applied GenAI or LLM-based solutions
• Deep expertise in prompt engineering, fine-tuning, RAG, GraphRAG, vector databases, and multi-modal models
• Proven experience with cloud-native AI development (AWS SageMaker, Bedrock, MLFlow on EKS)
• Strong programming skills in Python and ML libraries (Transformers, LangChain, etc.)
• Deep understanding of GenAI system patterns and architectural best practices
• Experience with Evaluation Frameworks and production-ready deployment standards
• Demonstrated ability to work in cross-functional agile teams
• GitHub Code Repository link required for each candidate

Preferred Qualifications

• Published contributions or patents in AI/ML/LLM domains
• Hands-on experience with enterprise AI governance and ethical deployment frameworks
• Familiarity with CI/CD practices for ML Ops and scalable inference APIs

EEO Employer

Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at or .

Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico.

Apex Benefits Overview: Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.